What is Raspberry Freazy Jam?

Every late June/early July, I start checking Harvold Farms in Carnation Facebook page for updates on their raspberry picking. This is a tradition in our family that dates back decades and several generations. Okay maybe not. But several of my cousins did work at the berry stands and my Grandma, Aunt, and Mother have all picked there, so basically it’s Family Tradition.

I think that so many people hear about others picking berries and making jam and think to themselves, ‘well they are over achievers.’ I’m here to tell you that I am not an over achiever by any sense of the word. I love quick, simple, and delicious. We like to pick berries in the mid morning before it gets too hot or too crowded. This year we had every intention of getting there right as they opened at 8 am. Well we rolled in at about 10:30…TL was a little annoyed that is was crowded and hot already, but I quickly challenged him to a picking contest and his need to win took away any annoyance that was left. The kids love to compete against each other too. We switch up the teams every year and this year it was decided that we would do boys against girls. GIRLS WON!

In less than 30 minutes we had picked 13 lbs of huge, ripe raspberries. THIRTY MINUTES PEOPLE. This is not an all day event. And PS if you time it right, you can hit up Ixtapa for lunch. Just a suggestion.

Now I am not a cool mom. I do not like to let my kids get messy in the kitchen. I am mean and like I said earlier, I like quick and easy. Nothing about cooking with your children is quick or easy. That being said, I am trying to push aside my need for control and help teach my children their way around a kitchen. Sometimes. Well this was one of those times. We made four batches of jam. Let me rephrase that. I made three batches of jam and we made one. I said I am trying not that I am perfect! The kids LOVED it.

Its seriously so easy. We use the Sure-Jell pectin. The directions are right in the box. It took less than an hour from start to finish to make 4 batches of freezer jam. And we had a great time doing it.

Downtown Monroe is about 30 minutes away from Downtown Carnation. Its a short, and scenic drive through the country, to the berry fields and the views are breathtaking. We love supporting local farmers and businesses in our area. Especially other hard working families that have helped to create these wonderful family traditions for us to pass along to our Kids!

Freazy Jam! See what we did there??

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